I used a cheap 250X digital microscope to look at some glanti to understand why some spots become less effective at reversing spin. After processing through some software, in the attached photos you can see the smooth areas showing more wear (grey color).

Findings:
1. Surface of glanti is uniformly not smooth when new. It has many tiny bumps which cannot be seen without magnification. These bumps are consistent across the surface of the topsheet.
2. As we use glanti to block loops, the tiny bumps on the surface become smoother, especially where the pips are.

Somehow the smoothness actually increases the friction and makes the glanti less effective. The bumps on the glanti must reduce contact with the ball. As the glanti becomes smoother, there is greater contact with the ball, and so the spin reversal is lessened.

There are also some tiny scratches which appear on the glanti, probably a result of small particles on the surface of the spinning ball. I did not see these same scratches on heavily used Transformer, so I don't think they affect the glanti effect.

I used a cheap 250X digital microscope to look at some glanti to understand why some spots become less effective at reversing spin. After processing through some software, in the attached photos you can see the smooth areas showing more wear (grey color).

Findings:
1. Surface of glanti is uniformly not smooth when new. It has many tiny bumps which cannot be seen without magnification. These bumps are consistent across the surface of the topsheet.
2. As we use glanti to block loops, the tiny bumps on the surface become smoother, especially where the pips are.

Somehow the smoothness actually increases the friction and makes the glanti less effective. The bumps on the glanti must reduce contact with the ball. As the glanti becomes smoother, there is greater contact with the ball, and so the spin reversal is lessened.

There are also some tiny scratches which appear on the glanti, probably a result of small particles on the surface of the spinning ball. I did not see these same scratches on heavily used Transformer, so I don't think they affect the glanti effect.

And what, exactly, is "glanti"?? (I've figured out "fanti", this one mystifies me.)

Iskandar

hm, interesting observation conrad...it may be the reason why fanti (frictionless anti ) degrade in performance while older, and not the other way around...

btw, my MB is not as good as it was new 2.5 month ago...

i said numerous times that i switched to anti bcs i thought i will buy one and play with it fot 5 years...but nope...

i stop to play with MB or TRANSFORMER coz those rubber have a monster degrade in bit time... it's impossible to play with constants conditions... now i'm back with 2 "normal" rubber and i bought a new blade for use my old LP.
For now stop fanti... too expensive...